tamaki sports academy

Since 2007, the academy has provided training, mentoring, and work experience to South Auckland youth
who are alienated to a greater or lesser extent from the mainstream school system.
It provides the opportunity for these 15-19 year olds to chase their dream of a career
in professional sport and leverages educational achievement and personal development off this.

Since 2009 the academy has largely been funded through the free metal collection
service it offers to Auckland homes and businesses. People phone 021 2639800
and arrange for the boys to pick up donated metal. Wherever possible this is recycled
rather than just scrapped.

working for play

A South Auckland sports academy has found an innovative way to raise money and help its
members achieve their on-field dreams. Rowena Orejana reports.

The scrap-metal shop on the corner of Huia Rd in Otahuhu looks nothing like an academy. But here
discipline is honed and trade skills developed.

Scrap-metal collection is how the academy largely supports its operation.
In its fifth year, it provides correspondence education, sports training and
apprenticeships to boys with troubled backgrounds who show promise in sports.
Mr Cullen says the academy currently supports 12 boys.
"When I was at BarterCard, one of our players was into metal-scrapping," he says. "I was already
looking for ways to fundraise at the time and thought I could do that."
The boys earn as they work part-time. Some learn to repair whiteware. "Not all of them become
good enough to be players. It's good for them to have a trade to fall back on."

Mr Cullen says the academy plans to run a school holiday course in April
for promising 15- to 17-year-olds.
"This will involve fitness testing, drills and games which will be recorded so that participants
can produce video clips to show scouts," says Mr Cullen. "The lack of video clips have always b
een an obstacle to these South Auckland boys."
He says the academy has developed good links with a number of NRL clubs in Australia.
"They know our boys are being looked after in an environment where there are very
clear expectations and boundaries. The boys have individualised training programmes
and receive feedback so they know what the clubs want them to work on."

Bobby says the academy has helped him a lot. "We do a bit of work. We also do league training.
I was in Australia last year for the Roosters trial. They told me what I needed to improve on."
Mr Cullen says the academy's role has always been to provide members with an opportunity they would
not otherwise have had.
"Back in 2007, when the academy began, there was considerable scepticism. However, we now have a
number of Auckland Rugby League's premier coaches more than happy to look at our boys."

Sporting success

Monikura Tikinau, one of Tamaki Sports Academy's first intake in 2007, went on to play in the
NRL under-20 grand finals in 2009.

Glen Fisiiahi was fullback for the Warriors team which won the under-20 grand final last year.
Glen is now a full-time Warrior.

Taqele Nayarovo moved from schoolboy rugby league to the championship-winning Otahuhu premier
team. This year, he is among the 25 contracted players with Wests.

Tevita Liku, in his second year with the academy, is an Auckland northern region under-18
and was an under-20 representative last year, playing premier football for the Ellerslie club.
He aims to secure a contract with Manly after playing in this year's Fox Memorial Championship.

news

April 22, 2018
Here we go again, another season starts and two of our original members from
the class of 2005 are still at it. Donny and Rahs Tuivai-Lopa playing for the
new Franklin Storm Premiers in the Sharman Cup competition.

November 12, 2017
Captain of NZ Maori in 2016, loosie for Scotland in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Well done James Bell.

October 14, 2017
George Edwards back in the NZ Residents team in 2017. Last year he played for NZ Maori in
this annual residents vs maori fixture. For the record, NZ Maori won 22-16.

September 3, 2017
Champions again. It's not NRL, and it's Hibiscus Coast rather than Papakura,
but congrats to Donny and Rahs Tuivai-Lopa pictured here with father Jack,
a man of incredible patience. Sharman Cup Reserve Grade Plate Champions 2017.

August 19, 2017
Michael Lemafa, age 17 and a half, made his debut in the NYC (NRL Under 20) competition
today. The Warriors were well beaten, 10-68, by Souths on the day, but what a
day for this young fella.

July 29, 2017
James Bell made his debut for the Warriors last night. We've been waiting for
this day all year. A tough little buggar who doesn't miss his tackles, hates
losing, and plays his heart out every time he takes the field.

April 23, 2017
Michael Lemafa, age 17, and a member of the Warriors NYC (Under 20) squad.
It's taken the club until round 7 to put the photo up on their web page, but they've
always been slow starters!

January 27, 2017
94kg and 180cm. Mighty mouse. Not only is he in the Warriors NRL squad
but he's playing in the NRL Nines at Eden park next weekend.
Well done that man, James Bell.

2016, October 15
Well done these two! James Bell (captain) and George Edwards representing NZ Maori October 15 at Huntly.
Unfortunately, NZ Residents scored more points on the day.

2016, September 29
Our replacement truck, ADY629, an Isuzu Elf!

2016, September 15
Our old truck, TT7944, has finally wheezed and screeched for the last time. It died after
a long illness on Saturday 10 September. Thank you to all those customers and supporters
who have donated to our givealittle page. A replacement is near.

2016, September 13
Congratulations to James "Hunter" Bell, Warriors reserve grade "Team Man of the Year"
for 2016. He played every game but one (suspension) for the reserve grade team in 2016,
and has offers from Aussie clubs for 2017. Come on Warriors - find the money to give
Hunter a decent contract.

2016, September 2
Congratulations to Michael Lemafa. He captained the Otahuhu Leopards Under 16 'B' team to the Auckland
Under 16 title, and was MVP in the NZ Schools development grade grand final where his school,
Onehunga High, came from 20-4 down to win 21-20, with Mikeey scoring the final try which tied things up
with a few minutes to go.

2016, March 20
Well done Jazz Tevaga who made his NRL debut today - starting lineup
as hooker for the Warriors after the late withdrawal of Isaac Luke.
He's the first of that very good 2011 Papakura High School team
to go all the way!

2015, September 6
Taqele is a Wallaby, coming off the bench to score a try on debut
in their test match win against the USA.

2015, July 25
From the class of 2009, Glen Fisiiahi finally returns to the NRL
after, what, a fifteen month injury break.

Update, August. Glen is switching to rugby union and
the Chiefs in 2016

2015, May 30
It's good to have this twin back from his year in Aussie and in a league jersey.
Welcome home Rahs.

2015, May 24
Here's another one going all the way. Taqele, scoring one of his two
tries for the Waratahs against the Crusaders, and looking at a Wallaby jersey
(qualifies on residency) for the Rugby World Cup.

2015, March 8
It's great to see our lads going on with it. James Bell scored the
first try for the Warriors reserve grade team in their win over Newcastle
yesterday.

2015, March 1
Here we go again! Pre-season and the Papakura boys won the ARL nines,
held in Whitianga. Good to see Hemi Douglas there with James Bell
and George Edwards.

2014, October 18
George Edwards finished a good season with selection as fullback for the Counties-Manukau
Stingrays and was named in the NZ residents team for 2014.

2014, October 4
Well, they did it from 8th spot. Here's James Bell holding up the
Holden cup won by the junior warriors.

2014, August 16
Congratulations to Donny Tuivai-Lopa who played at hooker as the
Papakura Under 20s won the club's first ever grand final in that grade
beating Mangere East by a whopping 44-4.

2014, Feb 9
Congratulations to George Edwards who played at fullback
for the Warriors in their trial game against the Gold Coast
Titans today. Here he is signing autographs after the game!!

2014, Feb 9
Pre-season games today. James Bell waited 40 minutes for his
chance to play for the junior warriors, but then he scored three
tries against Pt Chev, the Fox champions!! Well done too, to Oscar
Bound, who has made the move from Taranaki and started on
the wing for Pt Chev.